Mokena man sentenced for DUI deaths

JOLIET – A northeast Illinois man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a drunk-driving collision that killed a 72-year-old woman and her 92-year-old mother.

Prosecutors said Joseph E. Slattery of Mokena was driving under the influence Aug. 28, 2011, when his car veered over the center line and struck another vehicle carrying three people.

The driver, Margaret Simons, was pronounced dead at the scene. Simons’ mother, Suzanne Thompson, died at a hospital several hours later. One man survived but was badly injured.

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow welcomed the sentence imposed Friday on the 27-year-old Slattery. Glasgow said Slattery “should spend his time in prison contemplating the horrific results of his crime.”